A small contingent of Stortford paddlers made the trip to Reading for what turned out to be one of the biggest races on the calendar with a huge number of boats in each start. The 19 mile race to Longridge was made all the more challenging with high winds and moving water on the Thames, causing extra safety measures to be put in place. The starts were split into four groups with slow K2s followed by slow K1s and then fast K2s followed by fast K1s. Ella was the only Stortford boat in the early starts and made a fantastic start leading the group away from the line. Having never paddled this distance before Ella did incredibly well to finish the race in a very respectable time of 02:38:20 in what would later turn out to be good enough to win her class. Mike and Alasdair where up next in the fast K2 start continuing their preparations for the DW on a crucial part of the course, and finished in a respectable 9th place in 02:32:10. Finally in the fast start where Matt, Josh and Sim along with Stortford training group regulars Danny and Stelian racing for Leaside. With a number of around 70 boats on the start line there was always going to be chaos and a very difficult start ensued with only Stelian getting in a good position off the start. Both Danny and Matt fought very hard to battle past a large number of boats finishing in 02:09:28 and 02:11:44 respectively. Stelian was next in on 02:15:00 followed by Sim on 02:17:36, while Josh decided to break his boat not once but twice eventually causing a retirement at the halfway mark. Little did anyone know that at the time every K1 in the fast start had been deemed to have jump started and was therefore disqualified. This while handing Ella her win meant that only her and the K2 were deemed to have finish the race. See Thameside 2 results here and Thamesside 2 times here Also a big congratulations to Ella who on the same day has found out she has been selected of a GBR development trip at the end of the month